We aim to produce excellent beef cattle and genetics for our customers to prosper with better yield, breeding ease, handling and longevity.
Our goal is to develop a genetically superior core herd and pairing individually with exciting new genetics as well as reintroducing proven genetics expressing desirable genotypic and phenotypic traits.
We use advanced techniques such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Embryo Flushing, Live or Frozen Embryo Transfer (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI) to advance our core herd using specially selected local and imported genetic material.
Phenotypically, we select for desirable traits such as foot and leg structure, length, depth, softness, early growth, docility, fertility and carcass quality. We use and study EBV data and breed databases to optimise our matings and constantly improve these phenotypic traits in our core breeders.
Genotypically, we research and select for known genetic markers shown to improve these phenotypic traits in beef cattle. We can tailor this to the needs of our customers and in turn contribute to the advancement of the Speckle Park breed as a whole.
We select against red coat colour and horn gene carriers but are neutral and inclusive when it comes to myostatin carriers and black coat colour.
We select favourably for Leptin T, PMCH A, IGF2 C and CRH G alleles and our entire herd is screened for these markers in addition to the standard genetic testing required by the breed society. Recently SPI international has introduced 3 new tenderness markers to the testing panel and we can now select favourably for these as well.
In late 2020 we purchased 16 heifers and 1 cow from a range of stud breeders in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. This core group was specifically selected to incorporate a wide variety of available Speckle Park genetics at the time. Their pedigrees included many of the great sires of the breed including; Spots n Sprouts Stands Alone, River Hill Walker, Star Bank Lacerta, Caja Zepelin and Codiak Putnam. They also included some of the great females of the breed including Up to Specs Teeka, Prairie Hill Reba, Lightning Lady and Three Way Gracelands. To date we’ve retained 10 of the original group and have grown our core breeding herd to 30 head.
Over the last 4 years we’ve used a number of AI sires either locally sourced or imported from Canda and New Zealand. These AI sires were specifically selected to add targeted physical characteristics and specific genetic markers to our females and in turn produce superior bulls and frozen genetics for sale. The following bulls have all played their own part in our program so far;
MTRS 22D “Dangit Matters”: Dangit Matters straws were cheap and highly available when we first started out in 2020. He was a known leptin TT homozygote and was highly suitable over heifers producing nicely structured low birth weight calves. We began with 16 heifers and he was a safe option for first calvers and added leptin T alleles to our genetic pool in our first year. One his sons CPS S13 “Jim Slade” is working with a nearby commercial herd and has shown high fertilty and consistency in his calves. We’ve retained 1 of his daughters in our core breeding herd.
AST M57 “Gin Gin Manitoba”: Manitoba was first suggested to us by Amy Dickens at JAD Speckle Park back in 2020. In our first year we were looking for bulls with specific traits that we could use over our heifers and in Manitoba’s case it was his sound feet and legs. Our properties are steep and sound feet are essential to cope with challenging terrain and perform without breaking down. We didn’t retain any of our Manitoba matings.
BED 54Z “River Hill Line Drive”: Line Drive was another bull suggested by Amy Dickens at JAD in our first year from the very well known lineage of River Hill “Walker” and River Hill “Traffic Jam” and with exceptional milk scores. Line Drive was Grand Champion Bull at Canada’s “Farmfair International”, the “Lloydminster Stockade” and was Reserve Champion bull at “Agribition” in 2012 and 2013. JAD used him extensively in their early programme and we were keen to add his carcass, structure and sound maternal traits. We’ve retained 2 of his daughters in our core breeding herd.
BED 60W “River Hill Walker”: We got a few Walker straws in mixed pack purchased at auction in 2020 from Doctors Creek Speckle Park. Walker is Line Drive’s sire and was Reserve Grand Champion at Canada’s “Agribition” in 2009. His mother 60S was awarded Grand Champion Female in the same year. Walker brings old school star quality with elite EBVs, moderate birth weight and structure. Despite his great EBVs we haven’t retained any of his progeny and his genetics are represented already in our 2 Line Drive daughters.
JMG 444E “Notta Hawkeye”: We’ve purchased Hawkeye straws twice from Roz Alexander at Hidden Valley Beef. Hawkeye was Agribition and Farmfair Champion in 2019 and voted champion of North America in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and Champion of the World in 2018 and 2019. Hawkeye brings structure, moderate birth rate and rapid early growth. We were really pleased with the results and retained 4 magnificent looking daughters in our core herd.
JMG 309C “Notta Cause ‘n Effect” (CNE): CNE was another bull we decided to use back in 2020 and purchased straws from Panorama Farms twice. CNE is a Myostatin gene free Six Star Royal Flesh grandson who brings solid growth and excellent scrotal circumferences. We have 1 of his daughters retained and some younger heifers we’re watching closely. CNE produced some very nice bulls for us and we’re happy with our choice.
MAU N263 “Maungahina Northern Star”: We spoke with Mark McKenzie from New Zealand’s Maungahina stud back in 2022. He highly recommended Northern Star for docility, softness and excellent fat scores. We’ve retained 1 of his daughters and are keeping a close eye on some younger ones.
DAM 31E “Dots Electric”: We tried Dots Electric to potentially add some genetic diversity and structure as well as a possible low birth weight option. He gave us some nice young bulls and we have a young heifer that we’re watching closely.
JSF “Unmarked”: Unmarked needs no introduction and is a fine example of the breed phenotypically. Unmarked has produced excellent bulls and females for us as well as helping improve our fat scores. We’ve retained 3 of his daughters and will likely use him and/or his progeny again in the future.
MAU P203 “Maungahina Premier”: Vaughan Johnson at Ewyn Beef sold us some P203 straws in 2021. P203 is an Up to Specs Ulysses son and we’ve had some nice young bulls and quite feminine females using him especially with one of our foundation cows Baw Baw “Natalie”. We’ve retained 1 daughter CPS T8 “Toot” who we rate very highly and will try this combination again looking for another ultra feminine heifer.
BMZ 37D “Moovin Spotz Dart”: Similar to Dangit Matters (MTTRS 22D) Dart was another low birth weight option we could use safely over heifers. He was also a leptin TT homozygote and another opportunity to add leptin T alleles to our core breeding herd. We’ve 2 young heifers we’re looking at as they develop and will likely use Dart again as one of our AI options over heifers along with some other favourite heifer bulls in Montezuma, Invictus and U Grant.
TDC 01E “Mt Barr Eddie the Eagle”: Another leptin TT homozygote available in 2021. We used him a few times producing quite reasonable calves but as a Line Drive son and those genetics already represented we haven’t retained any of Eddie’s progeny in our breeding herd.
MPC M25 “Minnamurra Montezuma”: Currently at JAD and one of the best heifer AI options we have had. Shorter gestation with easy birthing calves who tend to thrive. We will use him and his progeny again and he brings some different genetics into our pool as well as a single leptin T allele.
GDB 103C “Ravenworth Invictus”: Another recommendation from Amy Dickens at JAD. Invictus is a highly regarded heifer bull imported from Canada. We have some heifers currently in calf to Invictus and are waiting to see for ourselves but are very excited to bring these genetics into our reach.
We have teamed these up with own home bred bulls The Spaniard, Super Fly, Jim Slade, Shadow Beyond, King Tut, Truth or Consequences, U Grant, Union Jack and Utah. As we move forward these bulls will move on to new homes and be replaced by the best of future generations.
We’re currently researching sires for 2026 and will use CPS U48 “Utah” as back up over our heifers and CPS U30 “Union Jack” over our cows.
